Hyderabad: The Telangana government has announced a major change in the way traffic challans and vehicle-related notices will be delivered to motorists across the state. Under the new system, vehicle owners must update their mobile numbers and email addresses on the Vahan portal within one month. After the deadline expires, traffic challans and official notices sent through SMS, WhatsApp, or email to the registered contact details will be considered legally delivered, regardless of whether the recipient actually reads or acknowledges the message.

Officials stated that a large number of traffic challans remain unpaid because notices are often sent to outdated addresses or old contact information. Authorities have also faced difficulties in proving whether a vehicle owner received a notice. To address these issues, the government has decided to rely on the contact details available in the Vahan database. Once a challan or notification is sent electronically to the registered mobile number or email address, it will be treated as officially served, reducing disputes and improving the recovery of pending fines.

The move follows amendments introduced earlier this year by the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways, allowing states to adopt electronic communication methods for issuing traffic-related notices. Transport and traffic authorities have advised all vehicle owners to immediately verify and update their details on the Vahan portal to avoid missing important notifications. Officials warned that even if messages are sent to old contact information, the responsibility will rest with the vehicle owner if the records have not been updated, making timely verification of personal details essential.